Escapement-actuating mechanism of typographical composing machines



March 25, W24

"r. DRAKE AL ESCAPEMENT ACTUA'I'ING MECHANISM OF T Y'POGRAPHICAL COHPOSING MACHINES Filed July 26. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nlarch, I 1924.

T. DRAKE ET AL 'ES'QAPB EIIT Adrianne MECHANISM OF TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINES ass-Sheet 2 Fii'ed July 26 1922 ya a 'cessive actuations of one and the Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

TOM DRAKE AND JOSEPH GRACIF WINTE arinLn, oF-Amanvcrim, niveLAnnjAsa SIGNOES T0 LINOTYPE Ann MACHINERY LIMI ED, or nonnon, ENGLAND, A

BRITISH COMPANY.

ESCAPEIVIENT-ACTUATING MECHANISM OF TYPOGRAPHIGAL COMPOSING IEI-M'lHIIINES.

Application filed July 26,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, TQM DRAKE and Josnrrr GRAClE VVrN'rnn Finnn, both subjects of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Linotype and Machinery Works Altrincham, in the county of Chester, lilngland, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating 'to Escapement-Actuating Mechanism'of Typographical Composing Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This, invention relates to typographical composing machines of the construction known commercially under the trade mark linotype and kindred machines, and it has for its object to provide new or im proved means whereby typographical elements of the same typographical significanoe contained in separate magazine channels can be released from those channels -in alternation by successive actuations of one and the same finger key.

The expression typographical elements for the purposes of this specification is intended to include all such devices as are usually stored in the magazines of the before-mentioned machines, whether those devices be provided with formative cavities for producing printing faces or be in the form of quads or spaces.

'As,-however, the invention is especially applicable for use in connection withwhat are known as the double e channels the following description is restr cted to that application and the aforesaid typographical elements are considered to be matrices appropriate to that character. It is further herein considered that the two channels in question are juxtaposed although there are already known power-transmission devices by which matrices from channels situatedv at a distance apart can be alternately released by $110- same key, and for that reason the present invention is intended to include all such varied arrangements.

The invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a left-hand side elevation of sufficient of a typographical composing machine to illustrate the embodiment there- 1 9'22. Serial n 577,528.

in of one-constructional form of the present lmprovements, and Figures 2 and 3 are front elevations of Figure 1 showing the devices in respectively {ll different positions.

In the constructional form represented in the drawings, there is a single key-rod 1 alternately brought into operation with two escapement rods 2, 3,'as shown respectively in Figures 2 and 3, appertaining to the two e channels of the magazine, said key-rod 1 being automatically operated by a camy0ke,- when" the latter, in the well-known manner, is' released by the respective keylever. I v r As the just mentioned magazine, camyoke and key-lever form no part of the present invention, they havebeen omitted from the drawings.

The key-rod 1 is held in normal position by a spring 4 which as shown in Figures 2 and3, is so arranged as to tend to draw said keyrod towards the left, so as to cause a pin 5 on the latter to bear against the edge of a ratchet'disc or wheel 6.

As a matter of fact it is to arearward extension of the pin 5, that the'up-per end of the spring 1' is attached, the lower end of said spring being an'chored to a fixed rail 7, by a pin or hook "8. i

The'teeth 6 or the spaces or recesses 6 between the teeth, of the ratchet wheel 6, are of such shape or size that successive angular movements of said wheel, due to successive operations of the key-rod 1, present surfaces 'which'holdor direct the pin inpaths'appropriate to the actuation of the respectiveescapement rods; Thus, in

certain angular positions of the wheel such as that indicated in Figure 2, the wheel surfaces'engaged by the pin 5, viz :those identified by. the references 6 are substantially vertical, and operation of the respective key-lever serves to actuate say the 'right hand escapement rod 2 of the two (2, 3) appropriate to that key -lever. During this same operation a spur 6 on the 'wheel 6 is presented in'the path of the 'pin 5 so that when this pin, during itsascent, engages the said spur, it turns the wheel 6, and inclines the above particularized pinguiding surface 6, so that during the next -ensuing-descent of the key-rod 1, the pin I 5 rides over the said surface until it passes the lower end thereof at which juncture it is drawn by the spring 4:, into the next following recess 6 of the wheel with the upper end of the key-rod 1 in engaging alignment with the left-hand rod 3 of the two pertinent escapement rods as shown in Figure 3. During the next ensuing operation of the key-rod l, the pin 5 engages with the top of the respective recess 6 and turns the wheel 6 su'liiciently to bring a succeeding pin-guiding surface 6 into substantially vertical position, and the key-rod 1 actuates the before-mentioned left-hand es capement rod 3, and, during the next following descent of the key-rod, the pin 5 passes out of the recess 6 and over, and to the underside of, the respective spur 6 with which the said pin engages, for again turning the wheel as before described.

A suitable device such as the adjustable friction or brake spring 9 is provided for exerting on the wheel 6 just sufiicient friction to prevent the rotation of the latter, excepting at such times as it is positively rotated by the key-rod pin 5.

10 indicates one of the ordinar key-rods, which, however, constitutes no part of the present invention. It is to be noted that so far as concerns the actuation of the disc 6 by the key-rod 1, it is immaterial whether the before described pin 5 is formed separate from, and attached to that rod, or formed as an integral part of the said rod, both of which arrangements are intended to be included in the following claims.

Having described our invention, we declare that what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In or for the escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine wherein a single key-rod at successive actuations is caused to o erate different escapement rods, a disc or w ieel adapted to be partially rotated directly by the keyrod at each actuation of the latter and at different angular positions to present respectively difi'erent guiding surfaces which cause the said key-rod to engage respectively different escapement rods.

2. In or for the escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine wherein a single key-rod at successive actuations is caused to operate different escapement rods, a ratchet disc or wheel adapted to be partially rotated at each actuation of the key-rod by the engagement of the latter with the toothed portion of the disc or wheel and having successive interdental spaces of respectively different contour.

3. In or for the escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine wherein a single key-rod at successive actuations is caused to operate different escapement rods, a ratchet disc or wheel according to claim 2, characterized by alternate interdenta-l spaces having like contours.

4. In or for the escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine wherein a single key-rod at successive actuations is caused to operate different escapement rods, the combination with the key-rod of a ratchet disc having successive interdental spaces of respectively different contour, a pin fast to the key-rod and means adapted to hold said pin constantly in contact with the periphery of the disc.

5. In or for the escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine wherein a single key-rod at successive actuations is caused to operate different escapement rods, the combination with the key-rod of a ratchet disc having interdental spaces of difl'erent contours arranged in alternation, a pin fast to the keyrod and a spring adapted to hold said pin constantly in contact with the periphery of the disc.

6. In or for the escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine wherein a single key-rod at successive actuations is caused to operate different escapement rods, the combination with the key-rod of a ratchet disc having successive interdental spaces of respectively different contour, a brake adapted to prevent accidental rotation of the disc, a pin fast to the key-rod and a spring adapted to hold said pin constantly in contact with the periphery of the disc.

7. In or for the escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine wherein a. single key-rod at suc- I cessive actuations is caused to operate different escapement rods, the combination with the key-rod of a ratchet disc having interdental spaces of different contours arranged in alternation, an adjustable brake spring adapted to prevent accidental rotation of the disc, a pin fast to the key-rod and a spring adapted to hold said pin constantly in contact with the periphery of the disc.

8. In or for escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine, the combination with a plurality of escapement rods and a single key-rod adapted to make direct contact with and operate said rods in alternation, of a disc or wheel positively engaged by the key-rod and adapted to be partially rotated by each actuation of the latter, guiding surfaces for the key-rod at different angular positions on the periphery of the disc, said surfaces being at such relatively diiferent radial distances from the axis of the disc as to hold the key-rod in operative register with respectively different escapement rods, and means operative to retain the key-rod resiliently in sliding contact with the periphery of the disc.

9. In or for escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine, the combination with a plurality of escapement rods and a single key-rod adapted t make direct contact with and operate said rods in alternation, of a ratchet disc or wheel positively engaged by the key-rod and adapted to be partially rotated by each actuation of the latter and the successive interdental spaces of which are of respectively different contour and the walls of which are adapted to hold the key-rod in operative register with respectively different escapement rods, and means operative to hold the key-rod resiliently in slid ing contact with the periphery of the ratchet disc.

10. In or for escapement-actuating mechanism of a typographical composing machine, the combination with a plurality of escapement rods and a single key-rod adapted t make direct contact with and operate said rods in alternation, of a ratchet disc or wheel positively engaged by the keyrod and adapted to be partially rotated by each actuation of the latter and the alternate interdental spaces of'which have like contours, and means operative to retain the key-rod resiliently in sliding contact with the periphery of the disc.

In testimony whereof we have affixed .0111 signatures hereto.

' TOM DRAKE.

JOSEPH GRACIE WINTER FIELD. 

